A CHESTER firm has been fined £2,000 after a worker had four fingers and thumb sliced off by an industrial saw.

Surgeons were able to sew back on three fingers and a thumb on to his damaged left hand although he still cannot use them, a court heard yesterday (Thursday).

Gary Whitley - who used to enjoy playing darts, pool and snooker and who is left handed - has already had three operations and is facing another two before he will know if he will ever use his hand again.

'Things are looking good so far,' he said, and praised the doctors who had given him hope for the future.

His former employers ended up with a £3,315 court bill after admitted failing to give Mr Whitley, 35, adequate training in the use of huge metal slicing saw, used to cut steel into lengths of scaffolding poles.

Mr Whitley of Victoria Road in Saltney was working at Dragon Steel Services Ltd at Chester Road, Saltney, in April of last year when the tragedy happened.

Flintshire magistrates' court at Mold heard that a CCTV film of the incident showed that Mr Whitley put his hand out to push loose tubes away from the saw blade.

'In doing so he put his left hand under the blade saw.

'The fingers and thumb of his left hand were amputated as the saw blade descended during its normal cycle of operation,' explained prosecutor Damien Gaskell, for Flintshire County Council's environmental health department.

He had been treated at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where three fingers and his thumb were sewn back on.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Whitley said that he was very grateful for what the doctors had done so far. 'It's amazing,' he said.

Mr Whitley, who has a partner and a child, said: 'I have no use of my hand at all at present, no grip at all. But the doctors are confident and it is looking good at the moment.'

Magistrates heard that CCTV footage showed that Mr Whitley had been operating the saw without the blade guard being in place.

Investigators found the remains of a glove on the bed of the machine together with spots of blood.

The court heard that Mr Whitley had worked there for two months, had been given a pack of training procedures, and while he had been given some training it was in the main given by a colleague who had started work there three weeks before him and who was not an authorised trainer.

The company was fined £2,000 with £1,315 agreed costs. Compensation was not dealt with because it is being pursued via insurers in the county court.